Hiring pumps for tunnelling work (rather than purchasing them) can save contractors a fortune. This is because, for the vast majority of tunnelling projects, there is no need to actually own the pumps in the long-term (to permanently invest in them). Pumps can be hired on a short-contract basis from a specialist pump rental company, and then returned. Also, as requirements change, the pumps can be taken away, serviced or replaced.

Tunnel types

Tunnels basically fall into three categories/types: mining, public works and transportation.

Public works tunnels carry water, sewage or gas lines across great distances. (The earliest tunnels were used to transport water to, and sewage away from, heavily populated regions).

A pump hire expert could provide equipment to various utilities contractors throughout the Thames Gateway, for example, including dedicated solutions for major sewer renovations and cable tunnels. An established pump rental expert that offers a genuine 24/7 service, could actually provide pumping solutions within hours (to minimise downtime and localised road closures).

Bespoke-designed pumps hired for power station work

At a large power station in Greater London, a pump hire specialist provided a contractor with reliable equipment over 25 weeks for work in cooling water tunnels, over 40m deep, that extended into the Thames. The water was laden with sand that causes excessive wear to standard pumps, and so the pump hire company actually manufactured pumps of hard iron construction to enable tunnel-boring machines to continue. To avoid diesel fume contamination and keep noise levels down, the pumps were driven by electric motors.

This work could only be undertaken and successfully completed by a pump rental specialist with a wealth of expertise and experience, simply because the project was so technically challenging.

Transportation – The London Underground Rail System

After trains and cars replaced canals as the primary form of transportation (in the 20th century), this led to the construction of bigger, longer tunnels. The London Underground train network (the ‘Tube’) first opened in 1863 and is a rapid transit system consisting of such tunnels, serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex.

In recent times, over a four-year period, a pump hire specialist in the UK supplied diesel pumps, submersible pumps and air pumps to support various critical applications for the Jubilee Line, for a huge range of contractors. Rented pumps were use to dewater tunnel shafts, tunnels and utilities diversions (sewage and gas). Electric-driven self-priming units for pumping slurry were also provided to the piling contractor.

For the contractors, it was essential to choose a pump hire company with an extensive range of equipment and an excellent record of delivering on time.

The Docklands Light Railway (DLR)

For the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), in a two-year project, an initial pumping system was designed and installed by a major pump hire specialist in the UK (to provide pumping for a tunnel-boring machine). Submersible pumps were then supplied in shafts to remove groundwater, and diesel pumps provided for drainage and utilities, including sewage over-pumping. Experts worked closely with the contractors on all projects to ensure they achieved their deadlines (within budget).

About just some of the types of pumps mentioned in this article

Air Pumps

For the specific transfer of aggressive liquids, or the hygienic handling of food substances, air pumps are perfect. As air-operated, double diaphragm pumps that are safe in hazardous areas, air pumps are self-priming and give leak-free pumping.

Submersible Hydraulic Pumps

When suction lift requirements exceed nine metres for diesel-driven pump sets, submersible hydraulic pumps are the best choice (they are driven by an integral hydraulic motor and are designed for applications that involve concentrated solids such as sewage, wastewater, chemicals and dredging).

Submersible Electric Sewage Pumps

For the pumping of clean water or sewage, and for a highly-mixed infrastructure across rural and urban locations, submersible electric sewage pumps are the type of pumps a specialist pump hire company will use.

Why pump hire is best left to experts

The aforementioned examples of where hired pumps were used during tunnelling work highlight just how specialist a field pump rental is. Each application is so unique it requires experts with a wide range of pumping solutions. (A ‘general pump hire’ company that adopts a sort of ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to providing pumps would be far from equipped to tackle such diverse and involved projects).